(c) Truancy Definition. A parent, guardian, or other person having charge of any child officially enrolled in Alabama public schools (K-12) shall explain in writing the cause of any and every absence of the child no later than three (3) school days following return to school. A failure to furnish such explanation shall be evidence of the child being truant each day he is absent. The child shall also be deemed truant for any absence determined by the principal to be unexcused based upon the State Department of Education's current School Attendance Manual. Seven unexcused absences within a school year constitute a student being truant for the purpose of filing a petition with the Court. The Interagency Committee on Youth Truancy Task Force recommendations known as the Early Warning Truancy Prevention Program timeline for reporting truancy shall define the truancy status of any student as follows:

• 1. First truancy/unexcused absence (warning)
     • (i) Parent/guardian shall be notified by the school principal or his/her designee that the student was truant and the date of the truancy.
     • (ii) Parent/guardian shall also be provided with a copy of Alabama's compulsory school attendance laws and advised of the penalties that can be applied and the procedures that shall be followed in the event that other unexcused absences occur.
• 2. No earlier than the fifth unexcused absence (conference)
     • (i) The parent, guardian, or person having control of the child shall (1) attend a conference with the attendance officer and principal or his/her designee and/or (2) participate in the early warning program provided by the juvenile court.
     • (ii) Attendance at one of these conferences shall be mandatory except where prior arrangements have been made or an emergency exists.
     • (iii) Failure to appear at the school conference and/or to appear at the early warning program shall result in the filing of a complaint/petition against the parent under Code of Ala. 1975, § 16-28-12(c) (failure to cooperate), or a truancy against the child, whichever is appropriate.
• 3. No earlier than seventh unexcused absence, but within ten (10) school days (court)
     • (i) File complaint/petition against the child and/or parent/guardian, if appropriate.
• 4. Child under probation
     • (i) The school attendance officer should be notified by the juvenile probation officer of all children in the school system under probation supervision by the juvenile court as consistent with state statute, Code of Ala. 1975, § 12-15-100 and 105.
     • (ii) Where a child under probation is truant, the school attendance officer should immediately notify the juvenile probation officer.
• 5. Any local education agency may adopt a policy more rigorous than the State policy.

This document provides information on attendance policies and procedures,

(2) If, after two years, student achievement has not improved, the state superintendent shall develop a system-wide school improvement plan in consultation with teachers, parents of students in the school, and the local community. This school improvement plan shall become a part of the local board of education’s program and financial operations for the succeeding year.

(a) For each fiscal year, beginning October 1, 1999, contingent upon the Children First Trust Fund receiving tobacco revenues and upon appropriation by the Legislature, an amount of up to and including two hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000), or equivalent percentage of the total fund, shall be designated for the administration of the fund by the council and the Commissioner of Children’s Affairs.

• 1. The School Safety Enhancement Program. The amount of monies available to each local board of education shall be determined by the State Board of Education based upon the second month enrollment of the preceding school year. To be eligible to initially receive a portion of the monies, each local board of education shall submit a grant application pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the State Board of Education with provisions for annual renewal of the grants. Provisions for program evaluation in order to determine effectiveness and financial accountability shall be included in the guidelines. The guidelines shall include all of the following:
     • (i) A component to enhance parental participation in school activities and promote parental responsibility for the performance and behavior of their children.
     • (ii) A requirement for a local 25 percent match of funds for school safety activities, excluding pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk children listed in item (ii) of subparagraph 2.
     • (iii) Sufficient safeguards implemented to ensure that the new monies will increase and not supplant or decrease existing local support.
• 2. School Safety Enhancement Programs eligible for grants shall be designed to prevent or reduce violence in the schools and communities and reduce school disciplinary or safety problems. The programs shall relate to one or more of the following: (iii) Truancy prevention programs which may include additional school attendance personnel and a Saturday school component.